Apparatus for coating metal-ingot molds.



G. F. Downs. APPARAUS FOR-COATING METAL INGOT M OLDS.

' Arme/mou meu Juul. m1..

Patented Oct. 23, 1917.v

2 SHEETS-SHEET l f Q. N V x M@ 8 W 41 7, i@ M ik@ 1 25. /m

G. f. Downs. APPARATUS FOR COATING METAL INGOT MOLDS.

Patented oet. 23,1917.

APPLICATION FILED IULY 7, l9l7.

2 sHETs-,SHEET 2.

GEORGE FRANCIS DOWNS, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR COATING- METAL-INGOT .MOL-DS.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Original application iiled December 16, 1916, Serial No. 137,417. Divided and this application led July 7,

- i917. serial No. 179,123. v v

Coating Metal-Ingot Molds; and I do' hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved ap-i paratus for coating the inside surface of steel-ingot-casting molds and consists of the matters hereinafter described and more parsult 'in' seams and surface defects that arel and condition of its outer surface.

ticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The present application is la divisional application, the matter herein having been iirs presented in an application for Letters Patent led by myself on December 16, 1916, and bearing Serial Number 137,417. The object and the advantages of the present invention will appear as I proceed with my specification.

A factor of primary importance in steel making is the preparation of the steel ingot itself, andV particularly as to the formation After the molten metal has been poured into the mold and when it is being allowed'to cool, it is of prime necessity that the outer surface of the ingot shall not stick to the mold during the time it is cooling. During this stage of forming the ingot, vits outer 'skin is quite tender and cracks are likely to` form unless,

a perfectly free contraction of the ingot;l is possible, without the sticking or adhering of the outer surface of the ingot to the inner surface of the mold. These 4oracle in /the surface of.,t-li'e..ingot,asis 4well known, re-

produced when rolling theingot.

It has been customary heretofore to coat the innerl surface of the mold to insulate the inner mold surface and to prevent adhesion of the ingot to said surface during the cooling period. To this end, various washes, consisting of mixturesv of water with clay, ganister, lime or graphite, 1n .certain proportions y.to give the proper fluid consistency, have been used. These washes have been applied in various ways, as for ek-l ample, by spraying, by means of brushes or swabs, and by sp1ashing,-the end and aim in each case being to cover as much of the iiiratentea occas, 1917.

side surfaceof the mold as possible. None of the above methods, however, have been capable of depositing the insulating, non'- adherent wash in a uniform layer or film upon the inside surface of the mold.

The object of my improved apparatus is to apply an insulating wash of the kind described in a uniform, even, smooth layer or.

film, completely covering the entire inner surface of the mold, and filling in and smoothing over all inequalities and depressions therein.

' My improved apparatusincludes a tank or other suitable reservoir in which I provide a washconsisting of water and of clay, ganister, lime, Vor graphite, in the necessary proportions to produce a mineure of such fluid consistency that it will stick or adhere to the surface of the mold when ap lied thereto. dipped into or submerged in the fluid mixture in said tank so as -to .bring'all of; the inner surface of the mold into contact with the mixture or wash.

The mold is partly or w olly The mold isthen withdrawn from the@ Huid mixture and the outside surface ofthe mold is washed or cleaned by sprays of water or otherwise, to remove the insulating Wash` or mixture from said outer surface. The mold is then in readiness for use in pouring the molten metal to form the ingot.

In the drawings: v

Figure 1 is ay diagrammatic view, representing in vertical elevation and partially in vertical section, my improved apparatus for, coating the inner surface of steel-ingotcasting molds.

Fig. 2 is a view showing thedipping tank forming a part of my improvedapparatus,

in vertical section, the plane of thection being -at right angles to v thatv of Fig 1, with the mold car placed adjacent thereto. Fig. 3 is atop plan view of the dipping tank. f

Referring now to that embodiment of my improved apparatus, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings 10, 10 indicate the upright beams of a traveling crane cling crane is placed a perforated structure; 11, 11, the upright posts; 12, 12, Ill-beam. stringers, and 13, 13, the rails supported thereon, and providing vtracks for the wheels 14:, 1l, of a traveling crane 15. T he upright beams 10, 10, are connected together at their top by suitable tie members '16, and the I-beains 12 upright members by means of plates 17, 17; 18 indicates a transverse shaft mounted on the traveling crane 15 and adapted through suitable gearing 19, 19, to drive thel wheels 14, 1l, along the tracks 1313; Q0 indicates the motor .for driving the shaft, and 21, the operator`s cab inv which is provided a suitable mechanism for controlling the motor.

` 22 indicates a transversely moving carriage mountd on rails 23 on the top of the traveling crane 15. A differential drum 24 is mounted on this, carriage and is driven by gearing 25, actuated in a familiar-manner by a motor 26 mounted on the carriage, and arranged for control by the operator in the eab 21.

2T indicates an open vessel or tank set in the ground or floor Q8, upon which the travstructure is erected. This tank consists, as shown, of a substantially rectangular box made of concrete or- 'other suitable material, and preferably provided with a metallic sheet lining 29. Preferably, said tank projects above the floor or ground level Q8, as shown; a trackway 30 is arranged alongside the tank 2T for a mold car 31. The tank 27 constitutes the dipping tank and contains the mixture of' insulating wash or fluid, consisting `of water and the several substances. clay, "ganister, lime or graphite, as heretofore described.

The dipping tank is provided with means for agitating'the fluid mixture contained therein. As shown, this means consists of an air blast pipe 3'2 which is located at one idc of the tank and which depends into the tank to a point near the bottom thereof. There is also provided means for heating the dipping mixture, which, as shown, consists of a steam pipe 33 leading :from any convenientsource of steam supply (not shown) and depending into the tank.

AboutL the top of the dipping tank, there pipe 34 built in the form of a hollow rectangle, with the perfoiations directed toward the interior of the tank, and connected to a supply pipe 35. Said pipe 35 has a hand valve 36 adapted .to admit water under presso/re into the pipe 34, from which it will be discharged through the perfor-ations therein into the space defined b v the four upright walls of the tank.

In the bottom of the tank is placed a basket 37 which is preferably in the form of a shallow, rectangular, open box having a perforated bottom wall 38. This basket 1s provided with chains 39 connectedl to its four corners,-there being onefehain at each are braced from said.

end of the basket. Said chains are normally looped upon hooks 40 fixed in the end walls of the tank 27 near its top. These chains may be engaged by the traveling crane 15 to withdraw the basket from the tank, as will be presently described.

indicates the ingot molds. Said molds (one or moi'e at a time,-two, as shown) are dipped in the fluid mixture in the tank by means of a grapple 4G attached to the blocks L17 connected in the usual manner by ropes or chains 1S, to the differential drum 24 of the traveling crane. The grapple is operated b`v the usual trip rope at) in such. a manner as to connect with or to be detached from the usual ears l5 on the molds 45.

The operation of my improved apparatus is as follows. The dipping tank is filled with one of the fluid insulating mixtures heretofore described. Steam is admitted through the pipe inorder to heat the mixture to a point somewhat below that of boiling water. At the same time, in order to maintain a thorough mixture of the wash, in which the solid material is merelyY suspended and not dissolved, air under pressure is admitted through the air pipe, and this air, escaping under the surface of the fluid in the tank, will agitato the mixture, maintain the solid. material in suspension and produce and maintain a constant, uniform mixture.

A number of molds 45 are brought on the mold car 31 into a position adjacent to the tank QT. The traveling crane and the carriage 22 thereon, are brought in a familiar manner above the molds on the mold car, and the block and grapple Ll-T, 16, are operated to lift the molds from the mold car and to lower them into the tank Q7 until they are completely immersed in the insulating fluid mixture therein. rlhe molds are allowed to remain therein until a film or coating of the insulating mixture has adhered to the surface of the molds. The differential drum of the crane is then operated to raise the molds from the dipping tank. As a mold is raised, the valve 36 is opened to supply water through the pipe 3%, and this water is discharged through the perforations of said pipe against the mold, so as to clean and remove the Wash or insulating mixture from its outer surface. The mixture, after it is washed off the outer surface of the mold, drips back into the tank together with the wash water. The dipped molds are then returned to the mold car, and another mold or set of molds is brought above the tank and dipped into it, as before described. After all the molds have been thus treated, theyvare taken away and the molten steel is poured into them in the usual manner.

The fluid mixture in grapple of thethe dipping tank is kept at a temperature between 100 and 200 F. The advantage of maintaining the Huid mixture at this temperature, is that cold molds will be warmed up and raised to a temperature labove that of the atmosphere during the dipping thereof, so thatthey will be in a more desirable condition as to 'temperature to receive the molten steel poured into them. Again, by maintaining the temperature of the dipping mixture at the degree described, the chilling of hot molds, when dipped into the mixture, is prevented.

The spray water pipe 3st not only acts to clean the outside surface of the mold and remove the insulating mixture therefrom, but it also, being cold and dripping into the dipping tanks, keeps down the temperature of the dipping mixture below the boil-` ing point of water, when the temperaturef the mold that is being treated exceeds that temperature. The addition of water in this washing process, to the fiuid mixture in the dipping tank, is compensated for by the evaporation that takes place, due to the temperature of the dipping mixture.

By dipping the molds as herein described, the interior surface of the mold is provided with a smooth, uniform layer of insulating material, and this layer or coating is applied to everypart of the said interior surface. Said uniform coating not only protects the mold and'prolongs its life, but it obviates surface fiaws in the ingot and permits lfree stripping of the steel from the inner surface of the mold as the ingot contracts. In addition, when the steel is poured, the small particles of molten metal that are splashed or thrown up against the mold surface as the molten steel rises therein, do not stick to thek surface of the mold, but drop back into the molten mass.I

Any sediment or particles of foreign substance that fall into the dipping tank, will collect inthe basket 37, which may be withdrawn at intervals to remove the same.

In describing my improved apparatus, I have stated that the mold is completely submerged in the fluid mixture contained in the dipping tank. It will be understood, of course, that complete submersion is not necessary. it being simply required to immerse the mold to such an extent that the fluid, insulating mixture will be brought into contact with the entire interior surface of the mold, or with so much of said surface as will he brought into contact with the molten metal when the ingot is poured.

I claim as my invention:

l. An apparatus for use inapplying a uniform layer of insulating' material upon the inner surface of a mold for metal ingots, comprising an open vessel. adapted to contain a mixture of the insulating material, means associated with said vessel for dipping molds thereinto and for removing the molds therefrom, means for agitating the mixture in said vessel, means for heating said mixture, and means for discharging a wash fluid against the outer surface of the mold as the same is withdrawn from said vessel.

2. An apparatus for use in appl 'ing a uniform layer of insulating nrateria upon the inner surface of a mold for metal ingots, comprising-ain open vessel, a blast pipe depending into 'said vessel, a steam pipe depending into said vessel, a spray pipe surrounding the top of said vessel, a hand valve for controlling the supply of Water to said spray pipe, and means associated with said vessel for dipping into and removing molds from said vessel.

3. An apparatus for use in applying a uniform layer of insulating material upon the inner surface of a mold for metal ingots, including an open vessel, a blast pipe depending into said vessel, a steam pipe depending into said vessel. a spray pipe surrounding the top of said vessel, a hand valve for controlling a supply of Water to said spray pipe, and a shallow, open basket having a perforated bottom wallresting on the bottom of said vessel and being provided with means for removing it from said Vessel.

4. An apparatus for use in applying a uniform layer of insulating material upon the inner surface of a steel-ingot-mold, comprising an open vessel Vhaving upright side and end walls adapted to contain a mixture of the insulating material, means associated with said vessel for dipping a mold thereinto and for removing it vertically therefrom, means for agitating the mixture in said vessel, means for heating said mixture and means for discharging a wash iuid against the outer surface of the mold as it is Withdrawn from said vessel. Y

An apparatus for use in applying a uniform layer of insulating material upon the inner surface of a steel-ingot mold,hav ing a vertically disposed ingot chamber, comprising an open top vessel adapted to contain a mixture of the insulating material, means associated with said vessel for dipping a mold thereinto and for removing it vertically therefrom, and means for discharging a wash fluid against the outer surface of said mold as it is withdrawn fro said vessel.

6. An apparatus for use in applying a uniform layer of insulating material upon the inner' surface of a steel-ingot mold, comprising an open top vessel adapted to contain an insulating mixture, a tramway and car adapted to convey the mold into a position adiacent the vessel, a traveling crane associated with the tramway and vessel, adapted to handle the mold to take it from the tram car and diph it into the vessel,

means for agtating the mixture in said ves sel, means for heating said mixture, and a spraying device locntcl adjacent the top o the vessel adapted to discharge a Washfluid against the oulsel.` surface of the mold as it is Withdrawn from said ve sse`l.

in tostimonythot claim 1me foregoing as my invention I aixmy presence of two Witnesses, July A. D. 1917.v 4 Y v GEORGE' FRANCIS DOWNS. Witnesses: l l

JULIA WUNSCH, WALTER J. BRYAN.

sgnatlir the l this 3rd d'ayof 

